365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Comptonia Peregrina
Day 271: Comptonia peregrina is a woody shrub native to the eastern portion of the country. Its common name of "sweetfern" is descriptive of the fragrant foliage which some feel is fern-like. Its natural growth habit is more leggy than it appears in this photo. I keep mine pruned into a relatively compact shape, so the deciduous foliage is actually quite dense. Removal of suckers keeps it from spreading out of bounds. In mid-summer, it produces soft-spined burrs, each of which contains 2-4 seeds. I have not had any success at propagating it from seed, but have managed to start rootstock cuttings.
Labels:
Comptonia peregrina,
Sweetfern
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